Dozens dead after gunman opens fire on Christchurch mosques in ‘unprecedented’ terror attack
New Zealand is reeling after an “unprecedented” terrorist attack in Christchurch, carried out by an Australian who killed at least 49 people.
KEY POINTS
● Dozens dead, scores injured as gunman opens fire at two Christchurch mosques — three people arrested
● Gunman livestreams as he opens fire inside Al Noor Mosque, charged with murder
● Australian who identifies himself as “Brenton Tarrant” wrote a 73-page manifesto declaring his intentions — was not on security watch lists
● Military disarms a number of improvised explosives attached to two cars in the city
● Bomb scare at Britomart train station in Auckland
● Police raid property in Dunedin
New Zealand is reeling after an “unprecedented” terrorist attack in Christchurch, in which an Australian gunman targeted two mosques and killed at least 49 people.
On Saturday morning, the Mayor of Christchurch Lianne Dalziel announced part of the city’s Botanic Gardens would be given over to floral tributes.
As both mosques are still crime scenes she implored people to remain away from them.
Farhaan Farheez was at the mosque in Linwood for Friday prayers.
“I saw people being shot at like they were animals,” he told TVNZ’s 1 News.
“I’ve never experienced something like that before in my life, it’s really devastating.”
Brenton Tarrant, the 28-year-old attacker who identified himself on Twitter, livestreamed the horrific massacre to Facebook in a 17-minute clip. He has now been charged with murder.
He was heavily armed and fitted two improvised explosive devices to his vehicle, which the military later diffused.
As Muslims gathered for Friday afternoon prayer, Tarrant opened fire in both Al Noor Mosque in the city’s centre and Masjid mosque in the suburb of Linwood.
At least 49 people are dead and 48 others are being treated for gunshot wounds, all in varying conditions. Authorities warn the death toll could rise further.
Two other people have been arrested, described as the terrorist’s “associates”, while a third who was earlier apprehended is not connected to the attacks.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern described the bloodshed as “one of New Zealand’s darkest days” and has raised the terror threat level to high. Tensions across the country are high.
In Auckland on Friday night, the Britomart train station was locked down after the discovery of two unattended backpacks, which were destroyed by controlled explosion.
Late in the evening, police raided a property in Dunedin, some 360km south of Christchurch, in relation to the terrorist attacks.
Tarrant said on social media that his original target was a mosque in the town. A street is cordoned off with a large police presence at a home.
GRAFTON MAN’S MAYHEM
A chilling video streamed live by the attacker, viewed by news.com.au and verified by Storyful, shows him storm into the Al Noor Mosque, shooting indiscriminately at anyone he sees.
The attacker, who is from Grafton in northern New South Wales, reloads his rifle multiple times and walks in and out of rooms in an apparent attempt to make sure all people inside are dead.
Related: ‘This is New Zealand’s darkest day’ — Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern responds
He leaves the mosque after a few minutes and then walks back out the front gate, where he shoots a volley of gunfire up and down the street.
The video also shows his car boot containing two black rifles covered in white writing, petrol containers and a bag that reads “PROUDLY KIWI AS”.
In the days leading up to the attack, the man posted photos to his now-suspended Twitter account of guns, ammunition and a military-style vest.
The weaponry pictured is scrawled with references to ancient battles and more recent attacks against Muslims.
He also released a vile 73-page manifesto, describing himself as “just a regular white man”.
SCENES OF HORROR
A New Zealand Herald reporter was told by witnesses that Tarrant left a mosque after the shooting and “actively” pursued a child down the street. That child is believed to be dead.
Another witness reported seeing the body of a five-year-old boy inside one of the buildings.
A man in the Linwood Ave mosque told Radio NZ there were 110 people inside at the time.
“We all went for cover,” he said.
“When we didn’t hear any more shots, we got up. Some people ran out and came back in a pile of blood. Five minutes after that police came and escorted us out.”
It’s understood about 300 people were inside the Hagley Park mosque for afternoon prayers when the shooting happened.
An eyewitness told New Zealand website Stuff he had seen at least four people lying on the ground at one mosque and had seen “blood everywhere”.
The photographer working for the publication also said he had seen three seriously injured people lying on the steps of the mosque.
A reporter at the scene said when he arrived at that mosque someone was lying on the ground across the road being helped.
COUNTRY ON HIGH ALERT
On Friday, Police Commissioner Mike Bush said officers in Christchurch were being “as equipped as possible” to prevent further attacks.
“As you can imagine this is requiring every police and emergency resource that we have available,” Commissioner Bush said.
“We have Defence Force aircraft in Wellington ready to fly more resources into the area. So I want to assure the public we are doing everything we can to make sure there is no more harm to the communities.”
As the attacks unfolded, schools in Christchurch were placed in lockdown — an order that was not lifted until 6pm.
While there was not information to suggest attacks were planned elsewhere in the country, Commissioner Bush urged people to be vigilant.
“I want to urge anyone thinking of going to a mosque anywhere in New Zealand today, not to go,” he said.
Most mosques across the country have voluntarily closed until further notice.
DRAMATIC ARREST AT SCHOOL
After the attack, vision emerged of a man dressed in military fatigued being arrested outside a Christchurch school.
What appeared to be a gun was on the footpath in front of him.
It’s not clear what role, if any, the person played in the terrorist attacks, but a video showed him kneeling on the footpath outside Papanui High School, with his hands behind his back.
Corban Manson told the New Zealand Herald he saw police arresting the man when he was driving past this afternoon.
“I was just on my way home. The guy was on the footpath with the cop and has his hands behind his back. There was a camo gun sitting right under him, which looked like a rifle. He was in full camo as well.”
Police had blocked off the road either side of the high school.
About 3.30pm, a staff member at the school said it had been locked down and staff were hiding under desks.
CAR BOMBS ALSO FOUND
A third crime scene was established in the afternoon on Strickland St, where police found two unexploded bombs in a vehicle.
Commissioner Bush confirmed “IEDs were attached” to the suspect’s car.
Speaking about the discovery Ms Ardern said she would not speculate on “the intention” for the devices but said they were attached to “the suspect’s vehicle”.
NEW ZEALAND’S ‘DARKEST DAY’
Ms Ardern described the attacks in Christchurch as “one of New Zealand’s darkest days” and an “extraordinary and unprecedented act of violence”.
“Many of those directly affected by this shooting may be migrants to New Zealand, they may even be refugees here,” Ms Ardern told media from New Plymouth on the country’s North Island.
The prime minister had been there for a series of appointments, which she cancelled after receiving word of the bloodshed.
“They have chosen to make New Zealand their home. It is their home. They are us,” she said of the victims.
“The person who has perpetrated this violence against us is not. They have no place in New Zealand. There is no place in New Zealand for such extreme and unprecedented acts of violence.
“Whilst I cannot give any confirmation around fatalities and causalities, what I can say is that it’s clear this is one of New Zealand’s darkest days.”
Ms Ardern boarded a flight bound for Wellington, where security agencies were already convening an urgent meeting.
Later in the day, she spoke to the media again and condemned the act of terror, particularly in a place of worship.
“It happened in a place where people should’ve been expressing their religious freedom, where they should’ve been safe,” Ms Ardern said.
“The people subject of this attack today, New Zealand is their home. They should be safe here.”
Ms Ardern said the country delivered “the strongest possible condemnation of the ideology” behind the attacks.
“You may have chosen us but we utterly reject and condemn you,” she said.
My heart is hurting about the news coming out of Christchurch. Sending love & prayers to the effected familiesâ¤ï¸ðŸ˜¢ pic.twitter.com/7PX9wc56b8
— Sonny Bill Williams (@SonnyBWilliams) March 15, 2019
NRL star Sonny Bill Williams shared an emotional video in response to the massacre.
The New Zealand All Blacks and Blues rugby star said he was struggling to comprehend what had happened.
“Just heard the news and I couldn’t put it into words how I’m feeling right now,” Williams said in the video, holding back tears.
“Just sending my duas to the families apparently there’s close to 30 people dead. I’m deeply, deeply saddened that this would happen in New Zealand.”
‘RIGHT-WING EXTREMIST TERROR’
Prime Minister Scott Morrison addressed the media in Sydney late Friday and extended his sympathies to all New Zealanders, and “particularly those of Islamic faith”.
“Australia and New Zealand — we’re not just allies, we’re not just partners. We’re family. As family members … we grieve, we are shocked, we are appalled, we are outraged.
“We stand here and condemn absolutely the attack that occurred today by an extremist, right-wing, violent terrorist (who) has taken the lives, stolen lives, in a vicious, murderous attack.”
While he would not comment on specifics about the gunman, he did confirm he was born in Australia and remains a citizen.
“I can confirm that the individual is an Australian-born citizen,” Mr Morrison said. Obviously with that element of the investigation, Australian authorities are involved.”
He would not be pressed on his personal viewers about the significance of an Australian being involved.
“It concerns me that this horrific and appalling attack was capable of any human being, but sadly it is,” he said.
The prime minister said he has met with ASIO, the Australian Federal Police and state authorities, and pledged to share all information about the Australian attacker with New Zealand counterparts.
Mr Morrison did not mince his words, describing the Christchurch incidents as a “callous terrorist attack”.
“Terrorism, as we’ve seen today, can be visited on anyone, anywhere. It’s not unique to any one world view. It was a radical, violent, right-wing, extremist terrorist.”
Mr Morrison said he had spoken to Ms Ardern and offered any and all assistance required.
“We will keep Australians safe in every way possible we can and we will work with our family in the region to do everything we can to support them to keep their people safe.
“As the night proceeds, I’ll be receiving further updates from ASIO and the AFP.”
Mr Morrison said such an attack in a “place like Christchurch” was unthinkable.
“In the quietest of places. That’s why we take the steps we do. It’s why we put in place the capacities we have.
“It’s such a sad and devastating reminder of the evil that can be around us.”
New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian would not comment on the man’s identity or links to the town of Grafton in the state’s north.
“Very senior officials from New South Wales have reached out to offer any assistance whatsoever. I don’t want to comment on anything beyond that,” Ms Berejiklian said.
At a press conference, Labor Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said the attack was “chilling in its callous preparation”.
“Australians and New Zealanders are brothers and sisters, so today we mourn. We feel their pain, we grieve with them,” Mr Shorten said.
TEAM CAUGHT UP IN ATTACK
Some of the Bangladesh cricket team were inside one of the mosques when the shooting happened and were filmed by an ESPN journalist running away from the building.
Appearing visibly distressed in the video, the team were filmed running back through Hagley Park to the Oval.
“The players are shaken up but fine. I spoke to one of them shortly after (the incident),” the team’s strength and conditioning coach Mario Villavarayen said.
Bangladesh team escaped from a mosque near Hagley Park where there were active shooters. They ran back through Hagley Park back to the Oval. pic.twitter.com/VtkqSrljjV
— Mohammad Isam (@Isam84) March 15, 2019
“They didn’t see anything but heard gunshots. They were at the ground (Hagley Oval) and just started running.
“The coaching staff were all at the hotel. The players just started running when they heard the shots. I don’t know how many (shots) there were. This happened at about 1.45pm.”
NZ Cricket has announced tomorrow’s Black Caps v Bangladesh test has been cancelled.
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